Still Here
@opusperfectum
Hirato woke abruptly, gasping for air as his heart pounded wildly in his chest. Panicked, he reached out next to him, relieved to find Akari was still there, sleeping softly at his side.
Mere moments ago he had watched helplessly as the doctor was viciously torn apart by varuga; slaughtered in the most horrific detail imaginable, his slick insides spilling out onto the ground with a sickening sound before he collapsed, the light leaving his ruby eyes forever.
The nightmare had been so vivid, so real, that the mere recollection of it left the Captain feeling feverish and nauseous.
Gently circling his arm around Akari’s waist, he pressed himself against his back, holding him in silence until his heart managed to stop trembling. Face buried in soft, pale hair, he breathed in deeply, taking in the comforting scent of his husband’s skin as he placed a chaste kiss against the nape of his neck.
“Hirato…,” Akari murmured in his sleep, stirring slightly.
Smiling upon hearing the sound of his dear doctor’s voice, the Captain imparted a reverent kiss behind his ear. “You are so very beautiful when you sleep.” He whispered, almost inaudibly, as his fingers lightly traced across the flat plane of Akari’s stomach.
“Mmmm…Hirato...,” Akari groaned, slowly cracking open a tired eye to look at the alarm clock on his bedside. “Why are you still awake at such a late hour?” He murmured, stifling a small yawn. “Please don’t tell me that Circus is calling you away on business at this time of night.”
“Nothing of the sort. I’m merely somewhat...restless at present.” Hirato replied, gently brushing his lips between the doctor’s graceful shoulder blades. “My apologies for waking you. Please go back to sleep. I promise that I’ll trouble you no further.”
Akari rolled over and eyed Hirato suspiciously. “I am no fool, Hirato. You haven’t been sleeping well as of late, and I can sense that your heart rate is elevated. It is quite clear that you’re hiding something from me. Now confess.”
“It’s nothing of import, dear Akari, I promise,” Hirato replied softly, as he traced the tips of his fingers across his lover’s cheek.
I just needed to prove to myself that you are still here...
Akari sat up in bed, casting a baleful eye in the Captain’s direction. “I know you, Hirato, and I will suffer no lies or secrets between us. If it has been deemed that your life is to be put in peril in yet another damnable suicide mission by the Executive Tower... ”
Hirato leaned in to capture Akari’s lips in a tender kiss. “I’ve received no such orders. I swear it. I just....needed this right now.” Placing his hands on the doctor’s chest, he gently coaxed him into laying back down.
Positioning himself over Akari’s prone form, Hirato slowly trailed warm, open-mouth kisses down the beautiful curve of his husband’s throat, his dark hair falling against his eyes as he cherished the subtle scent of his skin.
“Hirato.” Akari scoffed, subtly rolling his eyes. “If you woke me up at 3AM to try and seduce me…”
“No, that’s not it.” Hirato breathed as he continued to kiss a trail down the other man’s trim torso, ungloved hands running up and down his sides as he softly dragged his lips across the doctor’s flawless skin.
“Then, precisely what are you doing?” Akari asked as he looked down at the Captain who continued to slowly worship his lean body, kissing and caressing him as if he may never have the opportunity to touch him again.
Hirato smiled weakly, trying desperately to push the nightmarish images from his mind. “I’m simply offering up a humble prayer that you will continue to remain by my side, now and always.”












